Denver Nuggets head coach addresses Lakers trash talk

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone has had his fair share of words for the Los Angeles Lakers over the past few months. His Nuggets ousted the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals last spring, eliminating them in four games. Malone recently discussed all of the noise that his words for L.A. created.

He addressed the many headlines that he’s been a part of, during a recent appearance on Sirius XM NBA Radio.

“I don’t get it and I don’t really spend any time worrying about it. One thing I learned from my mother and father many years ago is you gotta be true to yourself. … I’m gonna be me, I’m gonna support my guys, defend my guys and ride with my guys through the ups, through the downs, the wins and the losses. That’s the only people I care about is that 17 players in the locker room, my family and all of our fans back in Denver.”

The Denver Nuggets have lived rent-free in the minds of the Lakers

Malone’s trash talk has clearly impacted L.A.’s players. He and the Nuggets were a prominent talking point throughout the build-up to the Lakers’ preseason.

The war of words began on Lakers Media Day when Anthony Davis talked about how he is looking forward to taking on the Nuggets later this month.

“It was just a lot of talking and all of the ‘Lakers are dead.’ We get it y’all won,” Davis told James Worthy. “Me and [LeBron James] had some conversations, like — we can’t wait [to play Denver].”

Davis’ teammate, Austin Reaves, spoke on the chatter as well.

“I think everybody knows it was pointed at us,” Reaves said (h/t Dave McMenamin). “They can do it indirectly if they want, but I think it was very obvious to the public eye, that’s why everybody was talking about it. You see stuff. Me personally, I try my best to stay off social media.”